It may have become a bit of a tabloid fail-safe to simply link relatively new managers with adequately talented footballers who’ve played under them before, but a lot of the time Premier League gaffers do tend to stick with what they know.
Case in point being Manchester United’s recruitment this summer. They’ve already secured deals for two players Louis van Gaal has managed before; firstly, Netherlands World Cup star Memphis Depay and secondly, Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Indeed, it’s becoming a bit of an LVG reunion at Old Trafford, which makes you wonder who the Red Devils might next target from the Dutchman’s prior exploits as Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Oranje gaffer.
With that in mind, here’s a list of FIVE former employees who might soon decide to follow Depay and Schweinsteiger to Carrington. Would the Red Devils benefit from these FIVE linking up with Van Gaal once again?
JASPER CILLESSEN
Iker Casillas’ decision to join FC Porto has made David De Gea’s long-awaited move to Real Madrid seem all the more inevitable, leading to rumours that Ajax No.1 Jasper Cillessen could soon replace the PFA Player of the Year nominee at Old Trafford.
Despite being controversially subbed off for a penalty shoot-out against Costa Rica, the Netherlands international impressed under Louis van Gaal’s leadership at last summer’s World Cup, keeping four clean sheets in seven appearances.
He’s also just come to the end of a very impressive campaign at Ajax, winning the club’s (and Gelderland’s) Player of the Year award for an Eredivise-best twelve clean sheets, despite the Amsterdam ArenA outfit (and Cillessen) missing out on the league title.
The 26-year-old has been rated as highly as £25m by the tabloids over the last few months, but he remains a cheaper alternative to United’s other widely documented goalkeeping target Hugo Lloris.
Cillessen has recently admitted he’s aware of the Red Devils’ interest but is yet to hear anything concrete from his agent.
Arjen Robben
Not only has Arjen Robben served under Louis van Gaal for both club and country, but he’s also widely regarded as one of the most formidable attacking threats in world football.
Indeed, the lightening winger boasts a rather incredible 108 goals in 196 appearances for Bayern Munich, helping fire them to four Bundesliga titles and the 2013 Champions League title since arriving at the Allianz Arena during the same summer as Louis van Gaal back in 2009.
The Netherlands international also served under the United gaffer during last summer’s World Cup, grabbing three goals and one assist as the Oranje clinched third place to earn the tournament’s Bronze Ball award.
Robben may now be 31 years old but he seems to grow better with age. Having won league titles with PSV, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern whilst making it to the semi-finals of the last two World Cups, there are few wingers in the game today who can contest his balance of talent and experience.
The Bavarians’ star snubbed an Old Trafford move last summer but having enjoyed the most prolific season of his career under Van Gaal – bagging 23 goals in 37 outings during the 2009/10 campaign – he could yet decide to join up with the Iron Tulip once again.
GERARD PIQUE
An incredibly youthful Gerard Pique never made a senior appearance during Louis van Gaal’s two spells as Barcelona boss. But having originally joined the club’s academy way back in 1997 just as LVG took the Nou Camp reins from Bobby Robson, he would undoubtedly have been aware of the defender’s progress.
Likewise, there’s no way the United gaffer could have missed the 28 year-old’s rise to world-class status since, claiming three Champions League titles with Barcelona alongside the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship with Spain.
Pique undertook a four-year spell at Old Trafford before moving back to the Nou Camp in 2008 and was linked with a return to his former club in January.
It’s not hard to see why; in similarity to United’s pursuits of Mats Hummels and Sergio Ramos, he’s an immensely experienced, highly-talented defender famed for technical ability and confidence in bringing the ball out of the back.
Despite netting a career best seven goals last season it’s not been a particularly easy ride for the 6 foot 4 centre-half, who found himself second-choice to summer signing Jeremy Mathieu until February.
Should United’s pursuit of Ramos fall through, we could see the Pique rumours pick up again.
STEFAN DE VRIJ
A somewhat cheaper solution to Manchester United’s centre-back problems, the Old Trafford outfit were linked with a £20m bid for Lazio star Stefan de Vrij back in May.
The 23 year-old emerged as one of the most promising defensive talents in the Eredivisie during his spell with Feyenoord but truly gained fame as part of Louis van Gaal’s Oranje squad at last summer’s World Cup, featuring prominently in their three-man defence alongside Ron Vlaar and Bruno Martins Indi.
He finished the tournament with impressive averages of 2.9 tackles, 3.6 interceptions, 2.6 successful aerial duels and 7.4 clearances per match, paving the way for an €8.5million move to the Stadio Olympico.
The 28-cap international has continued to impress for Lazio, helping them secure Champions League qualification during his inaugural Serie A campaign, which has seen him emerge on the Old Trafford radar once again.
Having signed him just twelve months ago, however, Lazio will be incredibly reluctant to sell. Likewise, de Vrij has recently insisted he’ll stay on with Le Acquile for at least another season.
THOMAS MULLER
Probably the former employee Louis van Gaal would want to sign most this summer, the Manchester United boss promoted Thomas Muller to the Bayern Munich first team during his spell at the Allianz Arena and he’s since emerged as one of the most clinical and complete forwards in world football.
Indeed, the German international has claimed 121 goals in 304 appearances for the Bavarians, the Golden Boot for the 2010 World Cup and the Silver Boot for the 2014 World Cup – firing Die Mannschaft to the world title and himself to the tournament’s Silver Ball award.
Manchester United could certainly do with his firepower following the sale of Robin van Persie to Fenerbahce but that only tells half the story of what Muller truly offers.
In typical Louis van Gaal style, he’s a multifunctional footballer – equally adept in virtually any midfield, attacking or striking role – underpinned by an incredibly physical 6 foot 1 frame and perhaps the greatest work ethic of any forward in world football. In a nutshell, Muller is one of the most complete players of a generation.
However, reports last week claimed United had seen a £60million bid rejected for the 25 year-old, with Bayern insisting he’s not for sale at any price.
